Lakers rumors: Should the team pursue superstar?

Rudy Gay

As the team looks to address their situation with forwards, another key piece to their puzzle could also come from Sacramento.

Rudy Gay is one of the other Kings players that has commented on his time with the team.

While the Lakers may not necessarily provide an immediate winning alternative, Gay could find his best groove with the young core. Los Angeles tried investing in a veteran forward by way of acquiring Luol Deng.

That has not worked out the way they expected it to.

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Deng, like Mozgov, was a contract that the Lakers seemed to do out of desperation. There really wasn’t a good way to figure out the team’s needs other than go to players that they knew for certain they could sway their way.

In a potential pitch to Gay, the difference here may be on how the Lakers deal with his contract situation. He, too, will not be a free agent until after next season.

This gives Los Angeles the upper hand because it allows them to craft a contract deal in the future that could give him more money than other places.

Where the Lakers need to be careful, though, in that same regard is just how much money they give him.

The team must also consider that the new bargaining agreement gives room for raises among their current roster. More specifically, guys like D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson could want to see more money.

If that’s what it comes to do, the Lakers have to prove they can be master negotiators.

And they haven’t exactly proven that lately.